ॐ नमः शिवाय, OM Namah Shivaya Mantra

Om Namah Shivaya is one of the most popular among various Hindu mantras. After the holy word "Aum", it is namaskar to Shiva. Devotees of Shiva regularly recite the Om Namah Shivaya mantra when performing prayers to Lord Shiva and also doing pooja, Japa, Dhyana, homa and smearing Vibhuti. In the Hindu tradition, Shiva is considered as "the destroyer" in the Hindu trinity of Gods.

Om Namah Shivay(ॐ नमः शिवाय) is a powerful healing mantra which benefits the reciter of all physical and mental ailments. This divine mantra gives peace to the heart, mind and body and acts as a nectar for the Soul. Sages had recited this "Om Namah Shivay" Mantra since long.

The soulful mantra, "Om Namah Shivay"(ॐ नमः शिवाय) is also called Panchakshara, or Panchakshari, the "five-syllable" mantra excluding the word "Aum". Panchakshari Mantra Namah Sivaya is the most divine salutation to Siva and these 3 words make up the heart of Vedas and Tantra.

The Tamil Saivaite hymn Tiruvacakam starts with the five letters 'na' 'ma' 'ci' 'vaa' 'ya'. This is part of Shri Rudram Chamakam, a prayer from Yajurveda, addressing to Rudra or Shiva.

As the human body is made up of five powerful natural elements, Shiva's Panchakshari Mantra, "Namah Shivay" also denotes these five elements:

According to Sages, this mantra is life, action, love, soul and body and if you repeat this mantra, you get wisdom and intellect from within.

Chant Aum Namah Shivaya(ॐ नमः शिवाय), the right way
The OM is to be uttered as AUM. “AAHH,” “OOH,” and “MAA” are the basic sounds of survival. If someone recites these 3 sounds together, you get "AUM". That's why "AUM" is regarded as the most fundamental mantra of Hindu religion. The mantra "Om Namah Shivay" is to be rightly pronounced as "Aum Namah Shivaya".

"ॐ नमः शिवाय" in Hindi or "Om Namah Shivaya" or "Aum Namah Shivaya" is such a powerful mantra to free the soul from the worldly desires and liberate onself to achieve the path of moksha or salvation.